Radioactive receptacle



Nov. 21, 1961 K- BOEKAMP RADIOACTIVE RECEPTACLE Filed June 15, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 1 49 43 5 a I 3L 57 59% I7 5/ 5 FIG. 2

v 5 I I NOV. 21, 1961 BOEKAMP 3,010,022

RADIOACTIVE RECEPTACLE Filed June 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 its Sttes3,010,022 RADIOACTIVE RECEPTACLE Konrad Boekamp, St. Louis, Mo.,assignor to Clarence D. Trowbridge, Edwardsville, Ill. Filed June 15,1956, Ser. No. 591,743 3 Claims. (Cl. 250-106) This invention relates toreceptacles, and more particularly to receptacles for radioactivesubstances (for example, radioactive isotopes) such as may be used inradiography.

Among the several objects of the invention may be notedthe provision ofa receptacle for safely transporting a radioactive substance from placeto place and using it particularly for radiographic uses, such as theradiographic examination of welds; the provision of a receptacle of thisclass provided with means whereby the radioactive substance may besafely withdrawn from the receptacle by a person safely remote from thereceptacle; the provision of a receptacle of this class provided withmeans whereby the radioactive substance may be so withdrawn from thereceptacle and accurately positioned in relation to an item (such as aweld) which is to be radiographed; the provision of a receptacle of thisclass which is readily adjustable in position to suit differentrequirements; and the provision of a receptacle having the statedfeatures which is economical to manufacture and easy to use. Otherobjects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a receptacle of this invention, a handlethereof being shown in an angled position so as not to obscure parts;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in cross section showinga special handling means of this invention attached to the receptacle;and,

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing a movedposition of parts.

Corresponding. reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a receptacle made in accordance with thisinvention is shown to comprise a base 1 which comprises a hollowcylinder having its axis vertical. Pivotally mounted in this cylinder atits upper end is a container comprising a massive generally sphericalbody or ball 3 of radiation-shielding material, more particularly lead.The lead ball 3 is cast in a two-piece shell 5 of a metal such ascopper. Trunnions 7 are secured to the shell 5 on a diameter of theball, these trunnions being journalled in bearing plates 9 attached tothe outside of the cylindrical base 1 by screws 11. The trunnions areaccommodated in notches 13 in the base cylinder. Thus, the ball 3 ispivotally mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis coincident with adiameter of the ball.

The receptacle is provided with a bail-type handle 15 having side bars17 which extend on the outside of the bearing plates 9. Clamp screws 19extend through openings 21 in the lower ends of the bars 17 and arethreaded in tapped holes 23 in the trunnions. Each screw 19 has a handle25 the inner end of which is engageable with the respective bar 17 forpurposes of clamping the ball (and the handle) in various positions ofrotary adjustment.

The lead at 3 is cast around an elongate cylindrical socket 26 (ofcopper or the like). This socket 26 has an enlarged cylindrical outerportion 27. The socket extends into the shell through an opening 28 inthe shell 5, the inner end of portion 27 hearing against the shell. Thesocket is located radially in respect to the ball in a planeperpendicular to the pivotal axis of the ball. The socket is closed atits inner end and provides a cylindrical radial recess 29 extendingapproximately to the center of the ball through the portion 27, whichconstitutes a neck on the ball. This recess may be somewhat enlarged, asindicated at 31, at the outer end of neck portion 27. Within the recess29 is an elongate hollow-thin-walled metal cylinder 33 which iscustomarily referred to as a pencil. This has a close sliding fit in therecess. It is closed at its inner end by an integral end wall 35. Thiscylinder 33 is adapted to receive a radioactive substance as indicatedat 37, the latter being located at the inner (lower) end of the cylinderon the end wall 35. In the cylinder above the radioactive substance is aslug 39 of radiation-shielding material, more particularly lead. Theslug is held in the cylinder 33 by a removable closure 41, moreparticularly a screwthreaded plug, 'at the outer (upper) end of thecylinder. The plug 41 has a reduced-diameter screw-threaded outwardlyprojecting extension 43 which serves for the attachment to the cylinderof means for removing the cylinder from the recess, as will be madeclear. Means is provided for clamping the cylinder 33 in the recesscomprising a set screw 45 threaded laterally in a boss 47 on the shell5.

A closure 49 of radiation-shielding material is provided for the recess.As shown, this closure comprises a cap made of lead cast in a shell 50of a metal such as copper. The cap is telescoped on the neck 27. Meansis provided for clamping the cap on the neck comprising a set screw 51threaded laterally in the cap and engageable with the neck 27. Means isfurther provided for preventing unauthorized removal of the cap. Thiscomprises a sleeve 53 extending lengthwise of the cap on the side of thecap opposite the set screw 51, this sleeve receiving a pin 55 extendingoutward from the boss 47. The pin 55 has a hole 57 outward of the sleevefor receiving a padlock 59.

The radioactive substance 37 is loaded in the cylinder 33 (the plug 41and the slug 39 being removed) by remote control means, and the slug 39and plug 41 replaced. The cylinder 33 is clamped in place by the setscrew 45 and the cap 49 applied and locked in place. Then, thereceptacle may be safely carried by the handle 15. For using thereceptacle in radiography, the ball 3 is tilted, the cap 49 is removed,and then the cylinder 33 may be safely removed, for example, by means ofa long pole having a fitting at one end for screwing on to the plugextension 43. Then, with the cylinder 33 at the end of the pole, the endof the cylinder containing the radioactive substance 37 may be held onone side of an object to be radiographed opposite a sensitized film.However, the invention further comprises a special means 61 shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 for use instead of a pole for withdrawing the cylinder 33from the receptacle and accurately positioning it in relation to anobject to be radiographed.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, means 61 comprises a guide constituted by anelongate metal tube 63. Fixed on one end of this tube is a collar 65having a counterbore in its outer end forming an annular socket 67between the collar and the end portion of the tube for receiving theneck 27 on the ball 3. A set screw 69 is threaded laterally in thecollar for clamping the tube to the neck. In the other (and outer) endof the tube is fixed a cord guide 70. The tube is provided with a seriesof pin-receiving holes 71 for reception of a stop constituted by a pinsuch as indicated at 73 at various distances from the inner (lower) endof the tube. A long cord 75 (fifty to one hundred feet long, forexample) extends lengthwise in the tube and out through the guide 70.The excess of cord outside the tube may be wound on a reel (not shown).Fastened to the end of the cord in the tube is a screwathreaded fitting77 adapted to be threaded on the extension 43 of the plug 41.

In using the means 61, the cap 49 is removed from the neck 27. Thefitting 77 is brought out of the tube 63 (still attached to the cord)and screwed on the extension 43 of plug 41. Then the tube 63 is appliedto the neck 27 and clamped by means of set screw 69. With screws 19loosened, the ball 3 and tube 63 may be swung for engagement of the tubewith the object to be radiographed, then screws 19 are tightened. Thebase cylinder 1 is provided with a cut-out 79 to accommodate the neck 27of the ball to allow for counterclockwise swinging of the ball from theposition shown in FIG. 2 to a position wherein the neck is horizontal.The pin 73 is inserted in the appropriate holes 71 to locate it at adistance outward from the region to be radiographed corresponding to thelength of the cylinder 33 plus the length of the fitting 77.

Then the user withdraws to a safe distance and pulls on the cord 75 todraw the cylinder 33 out of the ball 3, into the tube 63, and along thetube to the point where further movement is arrested by engagement ofthe fitting 77 with the pin 73 (see FIG. 4). This locates the end of thecylinder 33 containing the radioactive substance 37 immediately adjacentthe region to be radiographed, and the radiographic film is thenexposed. Following this, the cylinder 33 is allowed to slide back intothe ball, and then it is safe to approach the ball, remove the tube 63,remove the fitting 77 from extension 43, and apply the cap 49.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim:

1. A receptacle for a radioactive substance such as a radioactiveisotope, particularly for use in radiography, comprising a base, a ballof radiation-shielding material having outwardly extending trunnionsjournalled in the base for pivotally mounting the ball for rotation on adiameter of the ball, a handle pivoted on said trunnions, means forclamping the ball and handle in various positions of angular adjustment,said ball having a radially projecting neck and a radial recessextending into the ball through the neck in a plane perpendicular tosaid diameter of the ball, a hollow cylinder for containing aradioactive substance having a close sliding fit in the recess andadapted to slide out of the recess, said cylinder being closed at itsinner end and having a plug screw-threaded in its outer end, said plughaving a reduced-diameter screw-threaded outwardly projecting extensionfor attachment of means for removing the cylinder from the recess, aslug of radiation-shielding material in the cylinder, means for clampingthe cylinder in the recess, a cap of radiation-shielding materialtelescoped on the neck, means for clamping the cap on the neck, andinterengaging means on the cap and container for application of a lockto lock the cap to the container.

2. A receptacle for a radioactive subtance such as a radioactiveisotope, particularly for use in radiography, comprising a base, a ballof radiation-shielding material having outwardly extending trunnionsjournalled in the base for pivotally mounting the ball for rotation on adiameter of the ball, a handle pivoted on said trunnions, means forclamping the ball and handle in various positions of angular adjustment,said ball having a radially projecting neck and a radial recessextending into the ball through the neck in a plane perpendicular tosaid diameter of the ball, a hollow cylinder for containing aradioactive substance having a close sliding fit in the recess andadapted to slide out of the recess, said cylinder being closed at itsinner end and having a plug screwthreaded in its outer end, said plughaving a reduceddiameter screw-threaded outwardly projecting extensionfor attachment of means for removing the cylinder from the recess, aslug of radiation-shielding material in the cylinder, means for clampingthe cylinder in the recess, a rigid tubenadapted to receive the cylinderremovably attached at one end to the neck, a cord extending through thetube, a fitting fastened to one end of the cord and screw-threaded onsaid extension, and a stop carried by the tube for engagement by saidfitting and adapted to be positioned at various locations along thelength of the tube.

./ 3. A receptacle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the stop comprises apin extending laterally across the tube through holes in the wall of thetube, and the tube has a series of such holes for positioning the pin atvarious locations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,571,302 Smith Oct. 16, 1951 2,670,443 Pennock et a1. Feb. 23, 19542,684,447 Gilks July 20, 1954 2,750,517 Baum June 12, 1956 2,772,361Hiestand Nov. 27, 1956 2,798,164 Untermeyer July 2, 1957 OTHERREFERENCES Industrial Inspection With Reactor Isotopes, Eric T. Clark,Proceedings of the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, vol. 15, pages 188 to193, Aug. 20, 1955.

